Spain has been the hardest-hit country in Europe, with more than 6,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Saturday. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Spain has been the hardest-hit country in Europe, after France, with more than 6,000 confirmed cases as of Saturday.

France also ordered the closure of all non-essential places used by the public from midnight

Spain- Spain’s 46 million citizens are to be placed under nationwide lockdown for two weeks as part of state emergency measures to control the rapid spread of Covid-19, prime minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed.

Mr. Sanchez said the coronavirus outbreak requires “extraordinary decisions” and confirmed that the government has agreed to a state of emergency. He added that the armed forces were available to help if required. I News reported.

Under the new rules, people would be allowed out only for emergencies, buy food, or for work.

Air travel has also affected as Jet2, earlier on Saturday, turned seven of its planes around in mid-air as it announced that it was canceling all of its flights to Spain in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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After Italy, Spain has been the hardest-hit country in Europe, with more than 6,000 confirmed cases as of Saturday.

Also, the number of deaths had grown to more than 190 by Saturday night as the epidemic hits harder on Spain.

As Spain battle to contain the spread of the virus, Italy, where more than 1,440 people have died, is under complete lockdown until April 3.

France has also taken measures that will help minimize the spread as it has ordered the closure of all non-essential places used by the public from midnight (23:00 GMT Saturday) amid fears the virus spreading rapidly.-hit country in Europe

AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK